The scope of the School is to organise specialised courses on socio-economic development and to create an international platform to exchange experiences and knowledge between public officers and practitioners from OECD member and non member countries that deals with cooperation and local development issues.

The second edition of the Summer School on “Community and local development: fostering social cohesion and sustainability" took place from 18 to 28 July 2011 in Trento.

Objectives of the course

The overall objective of the course was to foster participants’ capacities to implement effective local development strategies and community based development projects. Participants were encouraged to work together with international and local experts to establish a common language and a common platform that allowed a better exchange of experiences and knowledge.

The course aimed at:

a.

Providing tools for reading and understanding the local territorial dimensions, with a local development based approach.

b.

Equipping participants with instruments to elaborate effective local development strategies.

c.

Promoting an international platform to exchange knowledge and experiences about local development.

The main “drivers” for local development were also analysed and discussed. In particular:

Cognitive capital. Ability to innovate, attract knowledge and competences in territories, development of high quality human resources.

Social capital. Equity and ability to reduce poverty, life quality standards, sharing of collective values (civicness) and multicultural integration capacity.

Infrastructure capital. High levels of physical and non-physical accessibility; healthy land settlement systems and reduced energetic and resources consumption, liveability and openness of urban spaces.

Details of the course

Who

The course was attended by a group from the Master course on "Management of Social Development Entities", part of the EAFIT University of Medellin's activities, whereas others were selected from various initiatives and institutions in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. Participants were professional actors from the world of public administration and very interested in local development issues.

Period

From 18 to 28 July for a total of 10 days.

Methodology

The school was structured around a mix of presentations and lectures by OECD, TCIC staff, international and local experts, followed by discussion, group work around case studies developed by participants prior to the seminar and field study visits.

Working language

Spanish (interpretation from English and Italian may be occasionally provided).